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Overview

US women bounce back in style

(FIFA.com) Thursday 13 March 2008

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The mild spring sunshine in Portugal clearly acts as a tonic
to the US women's team, as the current Olympic gold medallists
comfortably retained the prestigious Algarve Cup in an impressive
return to form after the disappointment of third place at the FIFA
Women's World Cup China 2007 some four months ago.

The team marshalled by new coach Pia Sundhage defeated
Denmark 2-1 in a re-run of last year's final to post a sixth
triumph in the annual match-up on the Portuguese south coast. The
Americans certainly had reason to celebrate after successfully
restoring a degree of lost pride and status in the world game, and
enjoying a much-needed confidence-booster ahead of the decisive
CONCACAF qualifying ties for the 2008 Olympic football tournament
in Beijing. After a period in the doldrums, the USA are once again
a force to be reckoned with.

Winning back respect"We had to deal with a strong opponent in every game we
played at this tournament. If our performances continue to improve
as they have done, I feel we will do well in the tasks ahead of
us," commented star striker Abby Wambach after netting the
winner against the Danes, her third goal at this year's Algarve
Cup and the 89th of her illustrious international career. Natasha
Kai opened for the holders, only for Cathrine Paaske Soerensen to
equalise and spoil the Americans' otherwise flawless goals
against record for the tournament.

Sundhage was understandably pleased afterwards. "I'm
very satisfied with our performance," observed the 48-year-old
Swede, looking forward to the Beijing showdown with renewed
optimism. A final tally of four wins out of four and 12 goals
scored by seven different players, combined with the emergence of a
clutch of talented newcomers and a new-found tactical flexibility,
will have helped Wambach and Co win back a great deal of respect
within the international women's game.

Misfiring world championsBy contrast, "could do better" applied to world and
European champions Germany after what has become their customary
modest performance in the Algarve. Coach Silvia Neid's ensemble
finished fourth after suffering two defeats, a 1-0 opening day
reverse to the impressive Danes and a 2-0 loss to Norway in the
third-place play-off, a stirring recovery by the Scandinavians
after an earlier 4-0 mauling at American hands. The Norwegians,
fourth at the FIFA Women's World Cup 2007, not only exacted
revenge for a bitter 3-0 semi-final defeat to the Germans in China,
but also beat keeper Nadine Angerer for the first time in 1,022
minutes of play: Silke Rottenberg kept goal for the Germans against
Denmark.

"I'm just glad it's over," confessed FIFA
World Cup heroine and former Turbine Potsdam star Angerer, now
playing her trade for top Swedish outfit Djurgardens IF. Germany
will no longer be regarded as runaway favourites for Beijing after
their patchy displays in the Algarve, for although the defence
largely appeared solid, the world champions lacked inspiration
going forward and were wasteful with the chances they did create.
Without Birgit Prinz, scorer of three of her side's five goals
at the tournament, Neid's team would be even less convincing
than they are now.

"We have room for improvement. I hope we exploit it in
time for the Olympics," reflected Neid after the defeat to
Norway, although the coach was not entirely dissatisfied after
experimenting with a clutch of new faces and formations.

Plenty to ponder for Sweden and ChinaThe Danes will feel the successful trip to the Algarve at
least partially made up for their failure to secure a spot at the
Olympics. Kenneth Heiner-Moeller's side claimed second place
overall and top spot in the Fair Play ranking, and also supplied
player of the tournament Paaske-Soerensen.

The teams with the most work to do ahead of the battle for
medals in Beijing appear to be Sweden and China. Both won their
matches to decide the final classification, Sweden beating Italy
3-0 and the Chinese overcoming hosts Portugal 5-4 on penalties, but
fifth for the Scandinavians and ninth for China leave the
respective associations with plenty to ponder ahead of this
summer's global event.